Judicial backlog bills advance

One gives high court the power to transfer positions

7:35 AM,
Apr. 11, 2013

Written by

Jonathan Shorman
JSHORMAN@NEWS-LEADER.COM

The House gave initial approval Wednesday to bills designed to help alleviate judicial backlog in some parts of the state.

House Bill 374 gives the Missouri Supreme Court the power to make permanent transfers of circuit judge positions from one circuit to another. Under the bill, the Supreme Court would be allowed to transfer positions when a vacancy occurs.

Rep. Kevin Elmer, R-Nixa, handled the bill on the floor, although he is not the sponsor. Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, sponsored the bill, but Elmer had introduced similar legislation that was merged into Cox's bill. ...